Knitting machine



Jan. 13, 1953 E. M. ZESCH KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1948 INVENTOR: Eugene/Elam,

ATTORNEYS.

N NW 2 MN NM NM MN NW NN m QNQN l N ll I i 1 1 I y MN E N N E N a N E R l, 1 Q

Q. g MS ET 0 5 E kw b g SNN @m j a I L Sfi g 5 fi l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

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E. M. ZESCH Jan. 13, 1953 KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1948 Jan. 13, 1953 E. M. 2550-: 2,625,024

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZZZ BY mm A TTORNE YS.

Jan. 13, 1953 ZESCH 2,625,024

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill -WITNESSES IN V ENTOR:

. 2M2 EageneMiZesciz, wwz flfi BY ATTORNEYS...

Jan. 13, 1953 E. M. ZESCH KNITTING MACHINE Filed NOV. 6, 1948 l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 mm ma Eh I 71 RE N @N N Em flaw +1 L QNN Nwfi. z .QNM EN MN QNN EN L N MQNRN INVENTOR. EugeneM. Zesa/i, w W

ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 13, 1953 E. M. ZESCH KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed NOV. 6, 1948 I wm m ESQ 3 H N QNRN NN QNRN INVENTOR. Ezgeneflllescfi,

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Wide 20.

Jan. 12; 1953 E. M. ZESCH 2,625,024

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1948 10 Sheets$heec 1O 1 ii 259 190 l! 1- w n- WITNESSES l N VEN TOR:

Hyena/141650.72,

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 13, 1953 KNITTING MACHINE Eugene M. Zesch, Shillington, Pa., assignor to Rosedale Knitting Company, Laureldalc, Pa., and Karl Lieberknecht, Inc., Reading, Pa., both corporations of Pennsylvania Application November 6, 1948, SerialNo. 58,674

14 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines. More specifically, it is concerned with straight knitting machines of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent #2,432,l08, granted to me on December 9, 1947, and designed for the production of full fashioned stocking blanks with diagonally sutured narrowed and widened heel checks which latter are formed from separate yarns upon end groups of needles while the intermediate or instep needles of a series are idled, the heel needles being gradually reduced in number at predetermined variant intervals during the knitting of the upper segments or gores of the heel cheeks and gradually increased in number at regularly recurrent intervals during the knitting of the lower heel segments or gores, by blade-like selectors which are first progressively shifted outward away from each other and afterwards shifted progressively toward each other. The heel cheeks thus formed on the patented machine are square in configuration and characterized by miter sutures.

The chief aim of my present invention is to make it possible to produce, on a machine of the above type, flat stocking blanks such as featured in U. S. Patent #2,435,489, granted to E. B. Beacham on February 3, 1948, having vertically oblong heel checks which result from narrowing at predetermined intervals during the formation of the upper segments or gores and widening at different intervals during the formation of the lower segments or gores. With this objective View, I have devised, as more fully set forth hereinafter, improved modified mechanisms for shifting the selectors and for correspondingly shifting the heel yarn carrier stops, as well as improved means for controlling these mechanisms in the manner necessary to determine the formation of the oblong heel checks of the Beacham stockings.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, in front elevation, of a, straight stocking knitting machine conveniently embodying my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the machine in top plan drawn to a somewhat larger scale and showing more particularly the improved mechanism provided for shifting the selector blades.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows III-III in Figs. 1 and 2.

dicated' by theangled arrows IV-IV in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section on a larger scale and taken as indicated by the angled arrows V-V in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a View like Fig. 4 with certain of the parts differently positioned.

Fig. 7 is a broken out fragmentary view in front elevation corresponding to Fig. 1 showing the means by which the shifting mechanisms for the selector blades and for the heel yarn carrier stops of machine are controlled during the heel knitting.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows IX-IX in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a detail cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows X--X in Fig. 1 showing the means provided for automatically introducing the stops by which the inward traverse of the heel yarn carriers is limited during the heel knitting.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View in plan of the parts shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows the foot portion of a stocking blank with oblong heel cheeks produced by my improved machine.

Fig. 13 is a spread out diagrammatic view showing the interloopment along the diagonal suture of one of the heel cheeks of the blank in Fig. 12, and

Figs. 14-22 are diagrammatic views showing successive positions to which the selector blades and the yarn carriers are moved relative to the needles during the formation of the heel checks of the stockings.

As in my prior patent, selector blades indicated at 15 and I6 and provided for action upon end groups of the needles N employed in each section of the machine for the heel knitting, are secured to collars l8 and 19 so as to be rockable about and shiftable along a horizontal rod 20 with their free ends resting on the needle bar 2| as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 20 is fixed in the swinging ends of a plurality of upright arms 22 on horizontal rock shaft 23 which is rotatably supported in bearing brackets 24 bolted to the upper front rail or bed 25 of the machine framework. The shaft 23 is arranged to be oscillated through a pendent arm 26 (Figs. 1 and 3) having a roller 21 thereon which, during the heel knit ting, is shifted into the path of a rotary cam 28 on the cam shaft 29, of the machine by a fork 30 under control of mechanism, which may be like that disclosed in, my prior patent supra.

5 Rotative movement of the rock shaft 23, in one.

direction is limited by engagement of a stop finger 3| thereon with a fixed bar or rod 32 of the machine. its movement in the opposite direction being yieldingly opposed by a draw spring 33 tensioned between said fin er and. a fixed anchorage 34 on the lower back rail 35 of the machine framework. Also as in my patent supra. the collars I8 and I9 are engaged by clevised lugs 35 and 3'! respectively affixed to longitudinally shiftable slide bars 38 and 39 which are disposed, one above the other, and which are guided for endwise movement in the end brackets 2 The separate yarns used in the heel knitting are fed by carriers .0 and 4| respectively pendent from two of the usual horizontal carrier bars 42 and 43 of the machine.

The improved mechanism which I have devised for shifting the slide bars 33 and 39, whereto the selector blades I and I6 are attached, includes a pair of axially-ali ned ri ht and left hand screw spindles 45 and 46 which are rotativelv su ported in spaced bearings 41, 48 and 49 bolted to the rail or bed 25 at one end of the machine. Associated with the spindles 45 and 46 are follower nuts 53 and 5! having pro ections 5 c. and cm which are en a ed from opposite sides by set screws 52 and 53 (Fig. 2) adiu table in lu s 54 and 55 on the slide bars 38 and 39. Mounted side by side on the inner ends of the s indles 45 and 46 adiacent the central bearine 48, are forward and reverse ratchet wheels 5'! and 58, 5!! respectively. arranged to be icked at different ti es by pawls 8! GI and 52. 63. see Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The pawls Gil, S! and 62, 63 are drawn toward each other by sprin s 54 and 65 and pi oted for independent movement on studs 55 and Bi projectinq laterally from the inner ends of slides 58 and 69. As shown. the slides 88 and 5 are constrained to reci rocatorv move ent t ansversely of the machine in a uide block afiixed to an end project on of the center bed H of the machine. Overthrow of the spindles 45 and 45 is prevented by action of spring detents 12, 53 u on stop disks (4 and I5 respectivelv, which have perioherial notches correspond ng in number to the teeth of the individual ratchets 5659. The slides 68 and 59 are alternately actuated by cooperation of rollers 76 and I! at their inner ends with oppositely inclined beveled surfaces I8 and 19 of a cam piece fill on a lon itudinally reciprocative rod 8!. Springs indicated at 82 and 83' are influential upon the slides 58, 69 to keep the rollers 15. '11 thereon yieldingly engaged with the cam piece 88.

From Fig. 1 it will be noted that one end of the rod BI is connected by means of a bracket arm 82,

to an endwise reci rocated. friction box rod or bar 83 of the machine, and from Figs. 2 and 4, that the outer end the cam piece 89 bears against a guide roller 84 supported by an extens on 85a of the bottom plate 85 of block Hi. Activity of the pawls 60, BI and 62, 63 is controlled by a mechanism including guards or shields 8'! (Fig. 2) which are pivoted on the spindles 45 and 46 and adapted to be engaged res ectively by studs 69a, Sic, and 62a, 63a. proiecting laterally from said pawls. Throu h drop links 88, 89, the shields 86, 8! are connected to the horizontal arms of bell cranks 9 9| independently fulcrumed in upstanding ears 92, 83 on the block I0.

The upri ht arms of the bell cranks 90, 9| are in turn coupled, by means of separate link rods 94 and 95, with levers 96 and 91 respectively free between collars 98 on a horizontal rod 99. As shown, the levers 9B and 97 have fin er proiections 96a and 91a in the path of peripherial lugs I680: and IIlIa on rotary cams I00 and IOI which are fixed upon a longitudinally extending timing shaft I62 in the rear upper part of the machine. Through suitable mechanism (not illustrated) the shaft I92 is turned stepwise through a complete revolution for each stocking knitting cycle of the machine. Springs, such as the one indicated at 53 in Fig. 4, serve to yieldingly maintain the finger projections 96a and 91a of the levers 95 and 91 in engagement with the rotary earns I05! and NH.

At certain times during the knitting of the heel cheeks of the stockings, the pawl shields 86 and 81 are moved to a neutral position as instanced in Fig. 6 by action of fingers I05, I 05 (Figs. 1 and 4) upon the levers 9B and 91, said fingers being fixed upon a shaft IQ! which is rockable in bearing bracket aims I08 supported by rod 83. Shaft It! is actuated from the control mechanism of the machine through the medium of interposed parts, including an arm I It (Figs. 1 and 3) on said shaft which. by means of a drop link III is connected to a similar arm M2 on a longitudinal rock shaft I I3 in the lower rear portion of the machine. Also fast on'the shaft I I3 is a second arm H5 which, by means of vertical link I I 6, is connected to a horizontal arm ill on a transverse shaft II B. As shown, this transverse shaft I 3 has rotative support in bearing brackets II?) and I2!) respectively on the rear front bottom rails 35 and IZI of the machine framework. A pendent arm I22 (Figs. 1 and '7) on shaft I I3 is in turn connected by an angular link rod I23 to the vertical arm of a bell crank lever I25 free on another transverse shaft I26 with its horizontal arm in the path of a series of actuating buttons or lugs I21 on a timing chain I28 of the machine. As shown. the chain I28 is trained about a drive sprocket I29 free on a stud shaft I36 in a fixed bracket I3i. The sprocket !29 is intermittently rotated to progress the chain I28 in the direction indicated by the arrow head thereon in Figs. '7 and 9, by means which includes a rotary cam I32 (Figs. 8 and 9) on the cam shaft 29 arranged to act upon a roller I33 on the upward arm of a bell crank I35 fulcrumed at I35 on an inward projection I31 of the bracket I3I. A drop link I38 connects the horizontal arm of the bell crank !35 to an arm I39 (Fig.7) which is free on the stud I and carries a pawl I49 for picking a ratchet wheel I4I aflixed to the sprocket I 29. The roller I33 on the bell crank LII- is shiftable into and out of the range of the rotary cam I32 through the medium of a fork I42 which is ailixed to a spring-biased horizontal slide rod M3, the shiftin being controlled by a rotary cam I on a supplemental longitudinal timins shaft I46 at the front of the machine near the bottom thereof. As shown, the cam I45 has a circumferential rise I4! ada ted to underpass a finger I48 on a rock shaft I49, said finger having a lift arm I59 to engage beneath a horizontal shoulder I5I adjacent the boss of another finger I52 fulcrumed at I53 and bearing against a projection I on the boss of the fork I42. This arrangement, it will be seen, is such that the chain I28 will be progressed as long as the projection I 41 of cam I45 remains beneath the finger I 58 as is the case while the heel cheeks of a stocking is being knitted. Like the timing shaft Hi2 previously referred to. the auxiliary timing shaft I 46 is turned through a complete revolution during each stocking knitting cycle of the machine.

Rod 83 (Fig. 2) is connected to a longitudinal slide bar I65 by, guide brackets whereof one is indicated at I88. Mounted on this slide bar is a friction box I81 with upstanding beveled ended ridges I68 and IE3 whereof the frontal one has a notch I10 which is adapted to be engaged by a finger I'H pivoted at I72 between a pair of forward projections I130. of a slide boss or collar I73 on the rod 83, said collar also having a clevised projection I'I3b engaged between a pair of collars Il i afiixed to the rod 8!, see Figs. 2 and 3. The finger I'II has a rearward tail IlIa which underreaches a rod I'I5 connected between the ends of a pair of spaced arms lid on the shaft 99. Also affixed to the. shaft 93 is a finger I'I'I adapted to be actuated by a peripheral projection Ilsa of another rotary disk cam. I13 upon the timing shaft 882.. By pull of a spring I19 (Fig. 3) upon one of the arms I18, the finger I'Il is yieldingly held to the cam I38. Another spring at I88 tends to keep the tail I'IIa of said finger in operative contact with the rod I75.

In order to variantly limit the inwardtraverse of the carriers 38 and ii during heel cheek formation to correspond with the shifts of the presser blades I5 and I3, I have devised mechanism including a divided screw spindle with axially aligned oppositely-threaded end sections I85 and I86 (Figs. 1, 8, 9 and 11) which are engaged by follower nuts I81 and I88 respectively. Slidable endwise in the nuts I81 and I88 are stop bars I89 and I38 (Figs. 1, 10 and 11) adapted to be contacted respectively by adjustable stops 82a and 43a on the carrier bars 32 and 43. During formation of the parts other than the heel cheeks, the abutment bars I89 and I99 are held retracted within the nuts I8'I and I83 as shown in Fig. 10. Thrust of the bars I89 and I28 to active position to intercept the carrier rods 62 and 43 is controlled from the timing shaft I82 which, for this purpose, is provided with two additional rotary cams I9I and I82 having circumferential rise I93 and I34 which are adapted to rock fingers I95 and I98 fulcrumed respectively at I97 and I88 on the nuts I8! and I88. By means of short links I99 and 288, the tails of the fingers I35 and I98 are coupled with fork arms 28! and 282 which are pivoted at 283 and 2528 on the nuts I83 and I88, and which have clevised ends engaging lateral studs 285 and 226:3 at the upper ends of the stop bars I89 and I88. The fingers I95 and I98 are yieldingly maintained in contact with the cams ISI and I92 through exertion of a downward pull upon the bars 189 and I93 by individual springs indicated at 287 and 288. Secured to the spindle sections I35 and I83 adjacent opposite sides of a bearing 2 It in which their contiguous inner ends are journalled, are ratchet wheels 2i I, 2I2 and H3, 233 with oppositely itched teeth. Arranged to act upon the ratchet wheels an, 212, 2:3, and 2H5 are pawls 2I5, 2N5 and 2H, 2I8 which are pivoted for independent movement respectively on the opposite projecting ends of a pin 2H! extending between the contiguous ends of two similar levers 223 fulcrumed on a horizontal shaft 22! at the top of the machine. The other ends of the levers 228 are connected, by means of a link rod 222 (Fig. 8), to the rear arm 223a of a lever 223 free on a shaft 223 clamped in fixed brackets 228 on the rear bottom rail 35 of the machine. The other arm 22% of lever 223 carries a roller 221 which is arranged to be acted upon by the rotary cam I32 on cam shaft 29 hereinbefore described. The roller 221 is shiftable into and out of the range of cam I32 by a fork 228 on a longitudinally extending rod 229 with guidance for endwisemovementin arms 230 clamped to the shaft 225. The rod 229 is shifted by means of an upright lever 231 at the inner end of a transverse rock shaft 232 rotatively supported in a downward projection 233 of the bracket 228 and in the bracket I 3I on the rail 35 of the machine frame work. To the front end of the shaft 232 is affixed a finger 235 (Fig. 9) which overlies the sprocket I29 and which is arranged to be actuated by cam lugs 238 on the chain I28. As shown, a spring 23'! in tension between the arms I35 and 223 tends to urge the rollers I33 and 22'! toward the cam I32. Selectivity as between the pawls 2I5, 2H5 and 2H, 2I8 to determine intermittent rotation of the spindle sections I and I86 in opposite directions, is effected by means of shield elements 248 and 2M which are independently movable about said spindle sections and adapted to contact the inner sides of said pawls. By means of link rods 282 nd 243, the shield elements 240 and 24! are respectively coupled with theupright arms of bell cranks 245 and 246 individually free on the shaft 247. The short lateral arms of the bell cranks 2 .5 and 246 are in turn connected, by

I link rods 248 and 249 (Figs. 7 and 9), with arms 253 and 25! respectively on the rear ends of transversely extending rock shafts I28 and 253 which are rotatively supported in the downward extension 233 of the bracket 226 on the rear bar 35 of the machine framework and in the bracket I3I on the front bar IZI. The forward ends of the shafts I28 and 253 are secured fingers 255 and 256 which overreach the sprocket I25 and which are adapted to be actuated by cam lugs 25'! and 258 on the chain I28.

Operation A stocking blank is knitted on each section of the machine down through the leg in the usual way, with incidental fashioning by narrowing of the web inwardly from the opposite selvages. During the leg knitting, the following normalconditions obtain in the machine: The finger I'II (Figspl and 2) is held withdrawn from the friction box I6l, with the selector blade shifting screw spindles 45 and 46 idle, and with the follower nuts 58 and 5! positioned on said spindles as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2; the levers 96 and 9'! are engaged with the concentric portions of the rotary cams I88, IBI on the upper timing shaft I 82 as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, with the shields 86 and 81 positioned as in Fig. 6 and the pawls 68 and BI ready to operate on the ratchet wheels 55 and 57; and the finger I48 rests upon the concentric portion of rotary cam I45 on thelower timing shaft I48 (Fig. 8), with the roller I43 on arm I42 out of the range of cam I32 on main cam shaft 23 and the control chain I28 quiescent, and with the stops I89 and I 93 retracted as in Fig. 10 so that one of the yarn carriers 48, AI may be transversed to the fullest extent in the leg knitting.

For explanation of the heel knitting, reference will be had from time to time to diagrammatic Figures 14-22, wherein the needles N are represented by a series of small circles which are numbered outwardly in opposite directions from the center of the needle bar 2i. When the knitting has proceeded to the course at which the heel checks are to be begun, the press movement of the needle bar 2! is modified as in my patent hereinbefore referred to, to prevent contact of the beards of the needles, except for those of the end groups selected by the blades I5 and IE, with the presser edge indicated at 260 in Figs. 2, 3

and 10 on the sinker head of the machine. At

the start of the heel knitting, the selector blades I5, I6 and the yarn carriers 40, M are positioned relative to the needles as shown in Fig. 14. The heel knitting in initiated by concurrent partial turns of the upper and lower timing shafts I02 and I46. By the rotative shift of the upper timing shaft I02, the rise I18a of the cam I18 thereon is moved into engagement with the finger I11 as in Fig. 3, for connection of the rod BI to the friction box I61. Therefore, during the knitting of the upper heel gores, with the pawls 60 and GI positioned as in Fig. 4 as previously explained, each time that the cam piece 80 moves to the right in Fig. 2, the slide 68 will be thrust forwardly and a tooth of the ratchet wheel 56 picked by the pawl 60 to rack the spindle 45. As a result, the follower nut 50 ismoved leftward from the broken line position of Fig. 2 to shift the selector blade I5 in the same direction to the extent of two needles. On the other hand, each time that the cam piece 80 is moved to the left in Fig. 2, the slide 69 will be actuated with consequent picking of a tooth of the ratchet wheel 51 by the pawl 6I and racking of the spindle 46 in Fig. 4 to move the nut 5I rightward, whereby the selector blade I6, connected to said nut through the slide bar 39, will be shifted in the same direction, likewise by two needles. Also by the instant rotative shift of the timing shaft I02, the rises of cams I9I and I92 thereon are advanced beyond the fingers I95 and I96 as in Fig. 10, with the result that the abutment or stop bars I89 and I90 are projected from the follower nuts I81 and I88 on the screw spindles I85 and I86 into the path of the stop lugs 42a and 43a on the carrier bars 42 and 43. By the instant shift of the lower timing shaft I46, the rise I41 of cam I45 thereon is advanced beneath the finger I48 as in Fig. 8, whereby the roller I33 of arm I is moved to the range of rotary cam I32 on main cam shaft 29, and said arm actuated to start intermittent progression of the control chain I28. During the knitting of the narrowed upper heel cheek gores, the fingers 255 and 256 are actuated each time by a pair of lugs of the series 251 and 258 on control chain I28 underpasses them. As a consequence, through the intermediate connections previously described, the pawl shields 240, Ml are moved to the positions shown in Fig. 8, with incidental selection of the pawls 2I5 and 2I8 in readiness to pick the ratchets 2H and 2I3 and thereby concurrently rotate the spindles I85 and I86 to shift the nuts I81 and I88, together with the stops I89 and ISO, outward each time by the distance of two needles. As the lugs of the series I21 on chain I28 sucessively underpass and actuate the finger I25, the pawl shields 86, 81 are moved to neutral position as in Fig. 6 for suspension in the racking of the selector blade shifting screw spindles and 46 occasionally during the formation of the upper gores. The above described conditions hold throughout the formation of the upper heel gores. In the present instance the lugs I21, 251, and 258 are so arranged on the chain I28 that in the first, fifth and seventh courses of the heel knitting, the selector blade I6 is moved outward each time by two needles, while the selector blade I5 is moved outward by two needles in the second, fourth, eighth and tenth courses as will be more fully explained later. During the knitting of the lower heel gores, the lugs 236 on timing chain I28, in underpassing the lever 235, cause the pawl shields 240 and MI to be displaced from the po sition in which they are shown in Fig. 8, so that the screw spindles I85 and I86 will then be reversely shifted to progressively move the carrier stops inwardly toward each other.

In preparation for the knitting of the lower heel gores, the upper automatic shaft I02 is given another rotative shift whereby the projections IOIla and IOIa of the cams I00 and II are brought into play to actuate the levers 96 and 91 for displacement of the shields 86 and 81 as in Fig. 5, to withdraw the pawls 60, 6| and allow the pawls 62, 63 to assume active positions. As a consequence, the screw spindles 45 and 46 will thereafter be reversely rotated to progressively move the selector blades I5, I6 inwardly toward each other alternately and respectively in every other course of the lower gore knitting. The heel knitting is terminated through stoppage of the timing chain I28 which is brought about by another rotative shift of the lower automatic shaft I46 for movement of the projection I41 (Fig. 8) of cam I45 from beneath the finger I48. By a concurrent additional rotative shift of the upper timing shaft I02 (Figs. 10 and 11), the projections of cams I9I, I92 will be moved into engagement with the fingers I95 and I96 for retraction of the yarn carrier stops I89 and I 90. By the same rotative shift of the upper timing shaft I 02 (Fig. 3), the lug I18a on cam I18 will be moved past the arm I11 to withdraw of the finger I1I from the friction box I66 with consequent idling of the racking mechanism for the selector blade shifting spindles 45 and 46. With the immediately foregoing accomplished, the machine will be restored to the normal condition for completion of the foot portion of the stocking.

In the commercial production of stockings with my improved machine, the number of courses employed in the upper and lower heel gores respectively may be in the ratio of three to two. It therefore follows that if a hundred and fifty courses in all are employed for example, ninety of them will be assigned to the narrowed upper gores A-BE' and CDF in Fig. 12, and sixty of them to the complemental widened lower gores B-EG, C-FH. The upper gores result from repetition of a cycle of which the successive steps are illustrated in Figs. 14-22 as determined by the arrangement of the lugs I21, 251, and 258 on the control chain I28. Fig. 14 shows the selector blades I5 and I6 and the yarn carriers 40, 4| in the positions which they occupy at the start of the heel knitting. During formation of the first course of each upper gore, the selector blade I6 alone is moved outward by two needles and the inner yarn carrier stops I89, I concurrently moved outward each by two needles, so that, at the completion of this course, after leftward traverse of the carriers 40, 4I in Fig. 15 the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles 6I6 of the lefthand heel group and to the needles 8I6 of the right hand heel group. During the formation of the second course of each upper gore as in Fig. 16, the selector blade I 5 alone is moved outward by two needles without change in the position of the carrier stops I89, I90, so that at the completion of this course, after leftward traverse of the carriers 40, 4|, the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles 8-I 6 of the left hand heel group and to the needles 8-I6 (again as in Fig. 15) of the right hand heel group. In the third course (Fig. 17) neither the selector blades I5, I6 nor the carrier stops I89, I90 are shifted, so that the respective heel yarns are once more fed to the needles 8-I6 of both heel groups as in the second course (Fig. 16) by rightward traverse of the carriers 40, 4I. During the formation of the fourth course (Fig. 18) the selector blade l5 alone is moved outward by two needles and the inner yarn carrier stops H39, Isl! concurrently moved outward each by the same amount, so that at the completion of this course after rightward traverse of the carriers, the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles it-ll of the left hand heel group and to the needles %lil (again as in Figs. 16 and 17) of the right hand heel group. During the formation of the fifth course, the right hand selector blade it alone is moved outward by two needles without change in the position of the carrier stops E89, E59 so that at the end of this course, after leftward traverse of the carriers as in Fig. 19, the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles iii-it of the left hand heel group (again as in Fig. 18) and to the needles ifi-!E of the right hand heel group. The sixth course, Fig. 20, is completed without change in the position either of the selector blades i5, is or of the carrier stops H39, it'd, i

so that with the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles iii-i6 of both heel groups (as in Fig. 19) after traverse of the carriers to the right. Thus during the upper gore formation, the selector blade to is moved outwardly in the first course, remains quiescent in the third course, is moved outwardly in the fifth and seventh courses, remains quiescent in the ninth course etc.; while the left selector blade i5 is moved outwardly in the second and fourth courses, remains quiescent in the sixth course, is moved outwardly in the eighthand tenth courses etc. This order being continuously repeated until the ninetieth course of the knitting is reached. As a consequence,

the upper heel gores will be narrowed by two needles each time from opposite sides of the stocking blanks at variant intervals i. e., at every second and fourth course in alternation as instanced in the lower portion of Fig. 13. t the start of the lower heel gores in the ninety-first course (Fig. 21), the selector blade is alone is moved inward to the extent of two needles and the carrier stops its, its concurrently moved inward each by the same amount as the carriers are traversed to the left, and the respective heel yarns fed tothe needles ldit of the left hand heel group and to the needles 8it of the right hand heel group. In the ninety-second course of the knitting, which is shown completed in Fig. 22, the selector blade it alone is moved inward to the extent of two needles and the carrier stops 589, its are moved inwardly concurrently each by a like amount, as the respective heel yarns are fed to the needles fi ld'of both groups. The latter procedure is repeated over and over again until the one hundred and fiftieth or terminal course is reached, whereby the lower heel gores are narrowed by two needles each time from opposite edges of the stocking blank at regular intervals, i. e., in every other course of the knitting as instanced in the upper portion of Fig. 13. Thus, as will be readily understood, the vertical elongate configuration of the heel cheeks is therefore due to shifting of the selector blades i5, i6 and carrier stops ids, its at differently spaced intervals during the knitting of the upper heel gores, and to shifting of said blades and stops at regular intervals during the widening of the lower heel gores, with the use of a greater number of courses in the narrowing than in the widening.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a straight knitting machine, a series of spring beard needles, a friction box bar with a friction box mounted thereon; blade-like selectors for flexing selected needles of two groups respectively at opposite ends of the series to bring their beards into contact with a presser edge in stitch formation; means for oppositely shifting the needle selectors along the needles including right and left hand threaded screw spindles, follower nuts on the spindles respectively connected to the selectors, pairs of oppositely-pitched ratchet wheels on the respective spindles, two sets of pawls for picking the respective ratchets on the corresponding spindles, a pair of transversely arranged slides carrying the respective sets of pawls, a rod supported for longitudinal reciprocation adjacent the Iriction bar, a cam on the rod. operative as the latter moves in opposite directions to alternately actuate the slides, and coupling means for reieasably connecting the rod to the friction box; and control mechanism for actuating the coupling means to operate the se lector shifting means, and for selecting corre spending pawls of the two sets for activityduring one knitting phase and the other pawls for activity during the other knitting phase.

2. A straight Knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector shifting mechanism further comprises means for selecting between the corresponding pawls of the two sets; and wherein the control mechanism controls the pawl selecting means to determine rotation of the screw spindles in one direction during one knitting phase and in the opposite direction during the other knitting phase.

3. A straight knitting machine according to claim 1, wherein the selector shifting mechanism further includes means for selecting between corresponding pawls of the two sets; wherein the control mechanism controls the pawl selecting means to determine rotation of the screw spindles in one direction during one knitting phase and in the opposite direction during the other knitting phase; and further including means also controlled by the control mechanism for determinn operation of one set of pawls at irregular intervals during one of the knitting phases.

In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; a selector adapted to act upon selected needles and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for progressively shifting the selector along the needles in one direction during a certain phase of the knitting and in the opposite direction during another phase of the knitting, including a screw spindle, a follower nut on the spindle connected to the selector, oppositely pitched ratchet wheels on the spindle, separate pawls for picking the respective ratchets, and a movable guard for selecting between the pawls for operation during the respective knitting phases; timing means for actuating the guard to permit one pawl to function during one knitting phase, and the other pawl to function during the other knitting phase; and control means for moving the guard to a neutral position to prevent functioning of both pawls at different prescribed intervals during the respective knitting phases.

5 In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; selectors adapted to act upon selected needles of two groups of needles respectively at opposite ends of the series and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for progressively shifting the selectors toward each other along the needles during a certain phase of the knitting and away from each other during another phase of the knitting including right and left hand screw spindles, fol lower nuts on the spindles whereto the selectors are respectively connected, pairs of oppositely pitched ratchet wheels on the respective spindles, two sets of pawls for picking the respective ratchets on the spindles, and a movable guard associated with each pair of the pawls for selectneedles; a selector for acting upon selected needles and causing their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for shifting the selector along the needles including a screw spindle and a follower nut on the spindle connected to the selector; reversible racking means for the spindle; connections through which the racking means is actuated from the friction box bar; and control means for controlling the racking means to rotatively shift the spindle in one direction during a certain phase of the knititng and in the other direction during another phase of the knitting.

7. A straight knitting machine according to claim 6, wherein the control mechanism causes shifting of the needle selector at regular intervals during one knitting phase, and at different intervals during the other knitting phase.

8. In a straight knitting machine, a reciprocating friction box bar; a row of spring beard needles; selectors for acting upon selected needles of two groups at opposite ends of the series to cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; carriers for feeding yarns to the respective needle groups; means for oppositely shifting the selectors along the two needle groups including right and left hand screw spindles and follower nuts on the spindles whereto the selectors are respectively connected; reversible racking means for the individual spindles; connections through which the racking means is actuated from the friction box bar; and control means for controlling the racking means to cause rotative shifts of the spindles in one direction during a certain phase of the knitting and in the other direction during another phase of the knitting.

9. A straight knitting machine according to claim 8, wherein the control mechanism causes shifting of the needle selectors at regular intervals during one knitting phase, and at different intervals during the other knitting phase.

10. In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; selectors adapted to act upon selected needles of two groups respectively at opposite ends of the series and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for oppositely shifting the selectors along the needles including right and left hand threaded screw spindles; follower nuts on the spindles respectively connected to the selectors; reversible racking means for rotatively shifting the spindles in one direction during one phase of the knitting and in the other direction during another phase of the knitting; a longitudinally reciprocating rod; and connections through which the racking means for the screw spindles is actuated from said rod.

11. In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; selectors adapted to act upon selected needles of two groups respectively at opposite ends of the series and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for oppositely shifting the selectors along the needles including right and left hand threaded screw spindles; follower nuts on the spindles respectively connected to the selectors; reversible racking means for rotatively shifting the spindles in one direction during one phase of the knitting, and in the other direction during another phase of the knitting; a friction box bar with a friction box mounted thereon; a slide rod extending parallel to the friction box bar; connections through which the spindle racking mechanism is actuated from the rod; and means controlled by the control mechanism for releasably coupling the rod to the friction box.

12. In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; selectors adapted to act upon selected needles of two groups respectively at opposite ends of the series and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for oppositely shifting the selectors along the needles including right and left hand threaded screw spindles; follower nuts on the spindles respectively connected to the selectors; reversible racking means for rotatively shifting the spindles in one direction during one phase of the knitting and in the other direction during another phase of the knitting, said racking means comprising pairs of oppositely pitched ratchet wheels on the respective spindles, two sets of pawls for picking the ratchet wheels on the corresponding spindles, a pair of transversely arranged slides carrying the respective sets of pawls, and a reciprocated cam operative by movement in opposite directions to alternately actuate the slides; and means controlled by the control mechanism and operative to select correspondin pawls of the two sets for activity during the one phase of the knitting, and the other pawls of said sets for activity during the other phase of the knitting.

13. In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; a selector adapted to act upon selected needles and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for progressively shifting the selector along the needles in one direction during a certain phase of the knitting and in the opposite direction during another phase of the knitting, including a screw spindle, a follower nut on the spindle connected to the select-or, oppositely-pitched ratchet wheels on the spindle, separate pawls for picking the respective ratchets, and means for selecting between the pawls for operation during the respective knittin phases; timing means for actuating the se lecting means to permit one pawl to function during one knitting phase and the other pawl to function during the other knitting phase; and separate control mechanism for controlling the selecting means to prevent functioning of both pawls at prescribed intervals during the respective knitting phases.

14. In a straight knitting machine, a row of spring beard needles; selectors adapted to act upon selected needles of two groups of needles respectively at opposite ends of the series and cause their beards to be closed in stitch formation; means for progressively shifting the selectors toward each other along the needles during a certain phase of the knitting and away from each other during another phase of the knitting, in cluding right and left hand screw spindles, follower nuts on the spindles whereto the selectors are respectively connected, pairs of oppositely 13 pitched ratchet wheels on the respective spindles, two sets of pawls for picking the respective ratchets on the spindles, and means for selecting between the pawls of the respective pairs for individual activity during the respective knitting phases; timing means for actuating the selecting means to permit corresponding pawls of the two pairs to function during one knitting phase "and. the other pawls to function during the other knitting phase; and separate control mechanism for controlling the selecting means to prevent functioning of all the p awls during different prescribed times duning the respective knitting phases.

EUGENE M. ZESCH.

14 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

